Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has ranked Arsenal’s Declan Rice third on a list of four midfielders who have cost in excess of £100m.

Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Chelsea pair Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo were the other players he was asked to rate, and he then offered his verdict:

“I would put Jude Bellingham as number one. Number two I may put Fernandez second, if we see what we saw yesterday more often, he looks like a complete midfield player. I would go with Declan Rice next and I would go fourth Caicedo, who I am a huge fan of, but I would put him fourth on this list.”

It’s a rather difficult task ranking players who all have pretty different styles of play. Bellingham, for example, is an all-action midfielder, who can play as an ‘8’, a ’10’, or even a ‘6’ if required.

Fernandez is very much an ‘8’ only, and he showed against Liverpool what he can do when let off the leash. Rice, meanwhile, is ostensibly a traditional holding midfield player, despite having plenty of other strong attributes. Caicedo, on the other hand, is more of a hybrid, with the Ecuadorian between a ‘6’ and an ‘8.

Rice will be hoping to build on his solid start at Arsenal

You wouldn’t say that the Gunners’ record signing has been outstanding in either of his first two games for the club, but he is bedding in nicely.

Against Manchester City, he played in a more advanced position than he is used to but manager Mikel Arteta moved him deeper against Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the Premier League and he looked more at home.

Arteta has said he wants two options in every position

Arsenal do have a lot of depth in midfield, and manager Mikel Arteta has emphasised the need to have two players in every role if they are to challenge for trophies.

With Thomas Partey expected to stay at the club, the Ghanaian will certainly keep Rice on his toes for his place, and that competition should help the former West Ham captain to thrive.